Music, or more specifically hip-hop in general, doesn’t always have to be an eardrum-busting, flex-filled soundscape in order for a song to come out great, and if anyone knows this better than anyone, it’s grandma. While he probably leans more towards a genre like alternative, there are definitely some hip-hop-adjacent elements that come into play, so I think that it isn’t unheard of to mention him and the genre in the same sentence. Nonetheless, he might not always release music quite as often as some of his counterparts in the industry, so that just means that you need to listen when he puts out something new.
As he gears up to release his EP Angelhood next month on August 12th, grandma has already gifted us a handful of unforgettable singles like “I Met God Online” and “Blue Atlanta”, but I think the song that has me most excited for this project is his brand-new offering “God Hired You to Be My Baby”. The production is laid back and driven by a guitar melody, but grandma’s voice is just so powerful and convicting that no matter what he is singing about or when he sings it, there is nothing in this world that could distract you from this engrossing anthem.
He even teamed up with Jack Dalton to co-direct a music video that is just as inventive as the rest of his visuals as it opens in a mall with patrons taking part in the cinematic project. Dressed in yet another individualistic ensemble, grandma makes his way around the premises playing the guitar and relying on random passersby to finish some of the lines as he holds his phone up to their mouths like a mic. Out of nowhere, he teleports to a beautiful field as the sun seems to be setting as he and a lovely lady ride horses and enjoy time away from the rest of society.
To finish things off, he and this girl head to a carnival at night, utilizing the vivacious lights to ooze even more imagination into the video once again. When asked about what this single symbolizes, grandma said:
“‘God Hired You to Be My Baby’ channels maximalist nineties pop to tell the tale of a person who views their relationship as a divine paid gig. Leaning into the themes of intimacy and the machine with lines like ‘You got shadow banned for acting how you act on live,’ although it is overtly vapid, the song aims to capture the idea that there is labor to love.”
Among all of the other things that mesmerize me with regard to the Atlanta talent, I am always riveted by his intelligence and the deep, profound details that go into every song he releases. This might be part of the reason why his drops are so few and far between, but it is just another reason why they can’t be overlooked when they are upon us. This means that “God Hired You to Be My Baby” is once again a crucial listen as we patiently await what is sure to be a thought-provoking and astounding project from the underground icon.